Drug Makers See Profit Potential in Rare Diseases

"....Big drug makers had "thought that orphan drugs were small, tiny things that didn't warrant their attention," says Angus Russell, chief executive of Shire, some of whose top-selling products treat rare enzyme disorders. The big companies watched Shire and other firms "develop drugs that have gone on to" reach sales of hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars, and have followed suit, he says...."